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Salisbury road reopened by police after man falls ill 'Extraordinary level of demand' on Wiltshire Police
(about 1 hour later)
A road in Salisbury has been reopened after police cordoned it off after a man fell ill in the city centre. The policing minister should help with the "extraordinary level of demand" facing officers following major incidents in Amesbury and Salisbury, Wiltshire's police commissioner said.
Emergency services were called to an incident in Castle Street involving a man in his 30s at 18:20 BST. Angus Macpherson said he had spoken to policing minister Nick Hurd to ensure the "increased pressure" was addressed.
A police cordon was put in place near Zizzi restaurant where ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia dined before they fell ill. The comments were made shortly before police cordoned off a road in Salisbury after a man was reported to be ill.
The man was taken to hospital and there was "no concern" for his health "or any wider risk to the public", police said. Officers later said there was "no concern" for the man's health.
On Twitter, Salisbury Police said: "We are pleased to report that the cordon in place in Castle Street, Salisbury, has been removed and the road has been reopened." They added there was also no "wider risk to the public".
They added the man had been taken to Salisbury District Hospital and was "fully assessed by medical staff". Mr Macpherson said the resources of forces across the country were also being stretched by the US presidential visit, the Royal International Air Tattoo and large summer events.
"We understand that our initial response to the incident may have looked alarming, but we hope you appreciate why we needed to take this highly precautionary measure. He said Mr Hurd had reassured him "the current approach to policing cordons, in relation to the ongoing major incidents in Amesbury and Salisbury, is under review to help me ensure that policing services more widely across Wiltshire and Swindon remain unaffected".
"Wiltshire Police has received great support from almost every police force across the county since the first major incident was declared in March," he added.
"Alongside the chief constable I couldn't be more grateful for the help and support of those forces, however, with more and more rest days being cancelled and annual leave requests being put on hold, we must now explore a different approach."
Police cordoned off Castle Street in Salisbury at about 18:20 BST on Thursday after a man in his 30s was reported to be ill, near the Zizzi restaurant where ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia dined before they fell ill.
It was reopened just after 21:00 BST.
On Twitter, Salisbury Police said the man had been taken to Salisbury District Hospital and was "fully assessed by medical staff".
"We understand that our initial response to the incident may have looked alarming, but we hope you appreciate why we needed to take this highly precautionary measure," they added.
"We thank you all for your patience and understanding.""We thank you all for your patience and understanding."
Earlier a witness, who asked not to be named, said the man involved was a "local homeless guy" who was "sat on the floor, completely conscious, talking".Earlier a witness, who asked not to be named, said the man involved was a "local homeless guy" who was "sat on the floor, completely conscious, talking".
He said he saw a paramedic putting on a chemical suit while another "was shouting at the man to stay put and stay on the floor".He said he saw a paramedic putting on a chemical suit while another "was shouting at the man to stay put and stay on the floor".
All the police officers had rubber gloves on, he added.
The Skripals were discovered unconscious on a bench in March after being poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.The Skripals were discovered unconscious on a bench in March after being poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.